A dozen workers from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the Department of Conservation and high country stations removed about 400 mature and seedling wilding pines from Walter Peak and Cecil Peak stations last Monday.
It was one of the latest battles in the ongoing war against the introduced tree species, which threatens native biodiversity.
The council, Doc, Land Information New Zealand, the Otago Regional Council, Eco Action Network, Forest and Bird, plus Walter Peak, Cecil Peak, Mt Dewar, Coronet Peak, Ben Lomond, Glencoe, Closeburn, Mt Nicholas, Waitiri, Soho, Halfway Bay and Queenstown Hill stations are working under the banner of the Wakatipu Wilding Conifer Control Group (WWCCG).
The annual budget of the incorporated society is $120,000 from the QLDC annual plan.
Landowners contribute at least 15% towards a clearing operation.
The group spends between $800 and $20,000 per hectare to remove wilding pines.
Costs depend on the density of the trees and whether a helicopter is used to over-spray, spray individual trees, or if a team sweeps on foot using hand tools.
About 10,000 wilding pines, from seedlings to mature trees, have been removed from Cecil Peak over the past 12 months.
About 30ha of pines below the skifield on Coronet Peak Station and 20ha above the Coronet forest line were sprayed on December 21.
Wilding control work was completed by Doc at Bob's Cove in the last week of January.
More than 60 volunteers were expected to remove wildings on the Ben Lomond Track, during the next Community Wilding Weekend, on March 20 and 21.
Peter Willsman, WWCCG chairman since September, said all landowners saw wildings as a huge problem.
"It's really a partnership between the WWCCG and the landowners and the QLDC, because of the proximity of Ben Lomond and the tourism industry.
Doc comes into it because of the reserves and heritage areas right back to Skippers Canyon.
"If nothing's done, on Cecil Peak and Walter Peak, instead of undulating tussock flora and fauna, you'll see North American wildings completely take over.
"From a tourism and heritage point of view, it's a time bomb we're sitting on."
Group member and Doc Wakatipu biodiversity threats ranger Jamie Cowan said the reason wilding pines were being removed was simple - the species displaced all native birds, plants, insects and reptiles.
"We are at risk of losing our stunning high country tussock lands if we don't act now. It's the only way forward, for everyone to work together."
The formation of the group is probably the most positive step in the fight against wilding pines.
The next WWCCG meeting is in QLDC Chambers on Thursday, March 11, at 5.30pm and all are welcome.
